2nd April 2009

A flurry of early ringing activity promised a good day, but as the still conditions became a very light northerly breeze just a trickle of birds appeared on the island.

No Hilbre 'scarce' species today except for the 2 Ravens seen again on the sand on the Hilbre side of 'bird rock', but the Merlin is still there on its usual cliff perches.

Ten Redpolls, 12 Goldfinches and 2 White Wagtails passed through with 6 Goldcrests, 3 Blackbirds a Chiffchaff and a Redwing present most of the morning, and then 2 more Chiffchaffs joined them later.

Observers had to wait for the wind to veer to the south east at noon before any Sand Martins (8) or Wheatears (1) arrived.

Very few sea-birds but a pair of Common Scoter were between the islands early and 6 Sandwich Terns (the second sighting this spring) arrived in the afternoon.

Birds ringed:-

4 Goldcrests

3 Chiffchaffs (right, first to be ringed this year)

3 Lesser Redpolls (below, also the first ringed this year))

2 Blackbirds

1 Wren

3 Mallards (catching these never fails to be hilarious !)

(DB,CJ,KMc et al) photos CJ